46
Chapter 4
LATER ELCI SYSTEM
Once the AC shore power reaches the yacht shore power
inlet or the optional cord reel later yachts use a system to
distribute AC electricity that includes a single pole inlet
breaker (ELCI- electrical fault circuit interrupter), galvan-
ic isolator and a ship’s main AC control panel with shore
power main and auxiliary equipment breakers.
After the shore-
power inlet or
cord reel the AC
electricity trav-
els to the ELCI
breaker. The ELCI
single pole breaker
located in the port
stairway locker
is set up to trip
should an over-
load or fault occur
between the breaker itself and the main yacht AC con-
trol panel. If the 50 amp ELCI breaker (40 amps on CE
yachts) “trips” fi nd the cause of the problem before re-
setting the breaker.
Another feature of the ELCI is a “leakage fault” detector
located on the starboard side of the ELCI breaker itself.
The leakage fault feature detects a change in the neutral
wire current. Should the current change more than 30
milli-amps or about 1/3 of an amp the unit senses the
difference and will “trip” the breaker causing the leakage
fault LED to illuminate red. This clearly indicates that the
trip occurred as a result of leakage. Before resetting the
ELCI breaker determine the cause of the leakage fault.
A proper operating AC system will display a green illumi-
nated LED at the “power” marked area of the ELCI.
Periodically test the ELCI by depressing the “test” but-
ton. The breaker should “trip” indicating the system is
functioning properly. Simply reset the breaker. The leak-
age hazard helps prevent serious equipment damage and
fi re.
After the neutral and the 2-120 volt conductors exit the
ELCI they run directly to the ship’s main AC control
panel.
TYPICAL ELCI
The green ground wire takes a different path. It exits the
yacht shore power inlet or cord reel and travels to a gal-
vanic isolator.
LATEST SYSTEM
Select later yachts feature a conventional 50 amp breaker
at the shore power inlet. This particular system has less
tendency to undergo “nuisance tripping” a condition
that could occur with the ELCI breaker. This conven-
tional breaker is recognized as a single throw, triple pole
design.
To Next Page
Loading...
